Staff Reporter
Two City of Gweru employees have died from suffocation after inhaling suspected toxic gases in a sewer manhole in Athlone subrub.
One other worker was rescued and rushed to Gweru Provincial hospital were he is still admitted in stable condition.
The city’s spokesperson Ms Vimbayi Chigwaramusee said the workers were working on a manhole in Athlone when one employee started suffocating in the sewer manhole and another employee went down to rescue, but unfortunately, both of them suffocating to death.
She said investigations into the fatal incident continue and expressed the city’s condolences to the families of the deceased..
“It’s with a heavy heart that I announce the tragic loss of two city employees who passed away while on duty in Athlone. The incident occurred when they were working on a manhole and unfortunately succumbed to gas suffocation.“
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families, colleagues, and loved ones of the deceased. The City of Gweru values the lives of its employees and residents, and we take the safety of our workers very seriously”, said Chigwaramusee
Council will conduct a thorough investigation into this incident to ensure that measures are put in place to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
She added that the sewer manholes has many toxic gases such as methane hence the unavailability of oxygen and high concentration of toxic waste gas can cause suffocating.
Names of the deceased are yet to be released. More to follow
